CHANDIGARH, India, Jul 05, 2012  --Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.(R) (NYSE:HOT) is bringing style at a steal to India with the opening of its fourth Aloft hotel in India located at Zirakpur, Chandigarh in partnership with Urbanedge Hotels, a special purpose vehicle (SPV) of Auromatrix . Aloft hotels made its debut in India in 2010 with the opening of Aloft in Chennai and Bengaluru and, in 2011, it launched a third hotel in Coimbatore. The group has plans to open one more Aloft hotel later this year, Aloft Ahmedabad.

Located on the Ambala - Chandigarh National Highway at Zirakpur, Aloft Chandigarh Zirakpur features, forward-thinking technology and a vibrant, social atmosphere. The hotel also offers a meeting space called tactic and a state-of-the-art fitness space called re:charge. Guests can grab a drink with friends at the re:mix lounge or w xyz bar and de-stress at splash, the outdoor pool.

Aloft offers a total sensory experience, with 175 loft- like guest rooms featuring nine-foot ceilings and oversized windows to create a bright, airy environment. The centerpiece of the Aloft room is the ultra-comfortable bed. Each guest loft is also a combination of high-tech office and entertainment center, featuring wireless internet access and plug & play, a one-stop connectivity solution for multiple electronic gadgetry such as PDAs, cell phones, mp3 players and laptops - all linked to a large flat panel HDTV ready television for optimal sound and viewing.

Featuring industrial design elements throughout, Aloft delivers urban-influenced, modern and vibrant design and an energetic guest experience at an affordable price point. With Aloft hotels, Starwood has brought a new generation of sleek, modern, and youthful mid-market hotels to the country.

"After the successful launch of three hotels in India, we are very thrilled to unveil our fourth Aloft hotel in India. India is an extremely important market for Aloft and the perfect match for the energy and vitality of the brand. The brand is all about the tech-savvy early adopter and we are excited to connect with India's Gen Y-minded travelers and provide them with a hotel experience that matches their very forward-thinking sensibilities," says Dilip Puri, Managing Director India and Regional Vice President South Asia, Starwood Asia Pacific Hotels & Resorts Pte Ltd. "We see a huge opportunity for this brand in India and will therefore continue Aloft's ambitious expansion with the opening of Aloft Ahmedabad, SG Road, later this year, a second Aloft hotel in Bangalore, Aloft Bengaluru Cessna Business Park, and an Aloft hotel at the Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) in the near future," he added.

Brian McGuinness, Senior Vice President of Specialty Select Brands for Starwood, agreed. "Aloft has earned a fiercely loyal following across India, and fans of the brand keep asking us to expand to more cities. So the opening of Aloft Chandigarh is especially exciting for us," he said. "Indian travelers have told us how much they appreciate Aloft's urban-inspired design, smart technology, and social vibe, and we're looking forward to developing an even bigger presence in India."

Aloft, the sizzling tech-savvy brand that has rocked the U.S. hospitality industry, made its debut in India in 2010. Aimed at the next generation of traveller, Aloft is Starwood's design-led, social-experience brand that has enjoyed the fastest ramp-up of any brand in the hotel history. As a young, tech-driven society, India is a key market for Aloft's development outside of the United States.

"We are extremely excited about the opening of Aloft Chandigarh Zirakpur," says Udday Kumar Krishnan, Managing Director Auromatrix Holdings Private Limited. "Aloft hotels in India have filled the gap between a 5 star hotel and a typical 4 star business class hotel. Spacious rooms, vibrancy, music and technology that sets Aloft hotels apart has made it popular both with the international traveler as well as the tech savvy young Indian traveler."

About Aloft Hotels
With more than 60 hotels in 10 countries, Aloft has changed the hotel landscape by offering "style at a steal" from Baltimore to Beijing to Bogota to Brussels and everywhere in between. For more information, please visit www.alofthotels.com.

Aloft, like all brands within Starwood's portfolio, is proud to offer the Starwood Preferred Guest(R) program, which offers a breakthrough policy of no blackout dates on Free Night Awards. To learn more, please visit www.spg.com

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1103 properties in 100 countries and territories with 154,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis(R), The Luxury Collection(R), W(R), Westin(R), Le Meridien(R), Sheraton(R), Four Points(R) by Sheraton, Aloft(R), and Element SM. The company boasts one of the industry's leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.